By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, and to strengthen emergency
preparedness with respect to individuals with disabilities, it is
hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. To ensure that the Federal Government
appropriately supports safety and security for individuals with
disabilities in situations involving disasters, including earthquakes,
tornadoes, fires, floods, hurricanes, and acts of terrorism, it shall
be the policy of the United States that executive departments and
agencies of the Federal Government (agencies):

(a) consider, in their emergency preparedness planning, the
unique needs of agency employees with disabilities and individuals
with disabilities whom the agency serves;

(b) encourage, including through the provision of technical
assistance, as appropriate, consideration of the unique needs of
employees and individuals with disabilities served by State, local,
and tribal governments and private organizations and individuals in
emergency preparedness planning; and

(c) facilitate cooperation among Federal, State, local, and
tribal governments and private organizations and individuals in the
implementation of emergency preparedness plans as they relate to

individuals with disabilities.

Sec. 2. Establishment of Council. (a) There is hereby
established, within the Department of Homeland Security for
administrative purposes, the Interagency Coordinating Council on
Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (the
"Council"). The Council shall consist exclusively of the following
members or their designees:

(i) the heads of executive departments, the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of General
Services, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and
the
Commissioner of Social Security; and

(ii) any other agency head as the Secretary of Homeland
Security may, with the concurrence of the agency head, designate.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall chair the Council,
convene and preside at its meetings, determine its agenda, direct its
work, and, as appropriate to particular subject matters, establish and
direct subgroups of the Council, which shall consist exclusively of
Council members.

(c) A member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council
functions of the member, an employee of the member's department or
agency who is either an officer of the United States appointed by the
President, or a full-time employee serving in a position with pay equal
to or greater than the minimum rate payable for GS-15 of the General
Schedule.

Sec. 3. Functions of Council. (a) The Council shall:

(i) coordinate implementation by agencies of the policy set
forth in section 1 of this order;

(ii) whenever the Council obtains in the performance of its
functions information or advice from any individual who is not a
full-time or permanent part-time Federal employee, obtain such
information and advice only in a manner that seeks individual
advice
and does not involve collective judgment or consensus advice or
deliberation; and

(iii) at the request of any agency head (or the agency head's
designee under section 2(c) of this order) who is a member of the
Council, unless the Secretary of Homeland Security declines the
request, promptly review and provide advice, for the purpose of
furthering the policy set forth in section 1, on a proposed action
by
that agency.

(b) The Council shall submit to the President each year beginning
1 year after the date of this order, through the Assistant to the
President for Homeland Security, a report that describes:

(i) the achievements of the Council in implementing the policy
set forth in section 1;

(ii) the best practices among Federal, State, local, and
tribal governments and private organizations and individuals for
emergency preparedness planning with respect to individuals with
disabilities; and

(iii) recommendations of the Council for advancing the policy
set forth in section 1.

Sec. 4. General. (a) To the extent permitted by law:

(i) agencies shall assist and provide information to the
Council for the performance of its functions under this order; and

(ii) the Department of Homeland Security shall provide funding
and administrative support for the Council.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or
otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or
legislative proposals.

(c) This order is intended only to improve the internal management
of the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create
any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or
in equity by a party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or
any other person.